Former Gopher Gardner Jr. dies

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — LeRoy Gardner Jr., a St. Paul prep hoops star and former University of Minnesota basketball player, had died. He was 61.

Gardner played for the Gophers from 1967 to 1969 and spent most of his life at the school, later working as a counselor, adviser and professor.
He was embroiled in a scandal at the school in the late 1980s, when he was an academic advisor for the athletic department. Gardner told the NCAA that football coach Lou Holtz once gave him $500 to give to a player. His allegation was dismissed by the NCAA and Gardner left the university for a time before returning as a teacher.

Gardner was diagnosed with lung cancer in February. He died Saturday in St. Paul. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

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